In 2018, Pune recorded highest number of H1N1 deaths in Maharashtra: datahttps://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/in-2018-pune-recorded-highest-number-of-h1n1-deaths-in-maharashtra-data-5527833/

According to the state health officials, there were 2,594 cases of H1N1 virus. Express

Maharashtra had the highest number of cases of H1N1 virus (swine flu) and deaths last year followed by Rajasthan and Gujarat in the country. According to the state health officials, there were 2,594 cases of H1N1 virus in 2018 and 462 deaths. Of these, the highest number of deaths were in Pune.

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Across the country there were a total of 13,447 cases of H1N1 virus and 969 deaths according to the latest update of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Last year was relatively quiet according to experts across various states. However Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh had a fair share of H1N1 virus cases.

There were 1,553 H1N1 virus cases in Karnataka with 59 deaths, 2,053 cases in Gujarat with 88 deaths and 738 cases and 40 deaths last year in Kerala according to NCDC data. A review by health officials in Maharashtra, which had the highest number of deaths, shows that the age group of 21 to 50 was among the most affected.

Dr Pradeep Awate, state surveillance officer said there has been a cyclical declining trend. “In 2017, there were 6,144 number of cases of H1N1 virus in the state and 778 deaths, while in 2016 there were 82 cases and 26 deaths,” he said.
While preventive measures like vaccination is taken up, the immunity against the virus in the community lasts for eight to 12 months, and then there is another surge, Awate said. Last year a total of 1.28 lakh people were vaccinated against the virus, and this year too the vaccine will be procured, Awate added.

Due to the strong surveillance network, cases are picked up, health officials added. Pune has seen a total of 136 deaths — the highest in the state last year. Of this, there were 65 deaths in the Pune Municipal Corporation area, 35 in Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation area and 36 in Pune rural area.

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Nashik corporation had 26 deaths and Nashik district (rural) had registered a total of 30 deaths last year due to H1N1 virus infection. Kolhapur registered 39 deaths, Satara 43 and Nagpur 11 deaths last year.